Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is reportedly examining a plan to establish a minority government with outside support from United Torah Judaism and the Arab Ra’am party, in a potentially dramatic development following last week’s inconclusive Knesset elections.
According to a report by Ynet on Sunday, Eisenkot has authorized discussions regarding a possible arrangement in which UTJ and Ra’am would abstain from key Knesset votes, allowing his government to take office without securing a traditional 61-seat majority.
Under the proposed arrangement, MK Yoav Segalovitz would join the coalition, while the remaining Ra’am lawmakers would provide support from outside the government.
The proposal could significantly change the political balance. Eisenkot’s bloc currently holds 48 seats, compared to 53 for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc. Removing UTJ’s seven seats from Netanyahu’s bloc and adding Segalovitz to Eisenkot’s coalition would leave Eisenkot with 49 seats against Netanyahu’s 46.
However, the proposal faces significant obstacles, particularly regarding the Chareidi draft law.
One possibility being discussed would see UTJ provide outside parliamentary support until legislation regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim is passed, after which the party could formally join the coalition.
Such an arrangement would require Eisenkot to reach an agreement with UTJ over the draft issue, despite major differences between their positions.
Meanwhile, Ra’am chairman Mansour Abbas reportedly wants his party to become a full coalition partner rather than merely provide outside support.
Another major obstacle is Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who has repeatedly declared that he will not participate in or support a government dependent on Chareidi and Arab parties, either directly or indirectly.
Additional disagreements have emerged over the position of Knesset Speaker. Eisenkot wants the position for a member of his Yashar party, while Lieberman is demanding that MK Oded Forer receive the role.
Eisenkot’s camp is reportedly unwilling to negotiate with the Joint List, although officials believe its lawmakers would be unlikely to oppose a government replacing Netanyahu.
Responding to the report, Eisenkot’s Yashar party emphasized that it is working to replace the current government but declined to confirm the reported negotiations.
“At this stage, we will not comment on what is happening behind closed doors,” the party said, adding that the various reports were not authorized by the party and did not necessarily reflect reality.
The developments come as President Isaac Herzog prepares to begin consultations with political parties on Wednesday before deciding which candidate will receive the mandate to form Israel’s next government.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
